Snippets

Here it is November 15. And we have had two spectacularly awesome days. Sun. 70 degrees. Feels like picnic-in-the-park weather. I just planted 60 tulips, 60 crocuses and 45 irises. All purple and red. Now. I just have to sit here and wait for five months. Hmm.

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Becca told John she didn't want him to drive her to school the other day because, as she put it, "I don't like the way your hair looks."

She told me that she wants me to come to her school for one of their parties. But only if I "wear my hair down."

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Andrew has made the sounds of: a dog, a goat/sheep, a cat and a fire truck. But he doesn't do them on command. He can do sign language for "please" and possibly for "eat" and "more", but those aren't documented. I thought I heard him say "ball" a couple times, but am not sure. He babbles a lot. But, he still has ZERO words. He has said Mama and Dada but I don't think it was in context. What the hell? He has certain sounds that mean certain things, "ah ah ah" said with a certain (desperate) inflection means I want to eat THAT. Smacking his lips means he's hungry. And for everything else....whining does the trick. Holy SHIT can this kid whine. And God forbid I leave the room he is in, because you would swear someone has cut off one of his limbs. He just LOSES IT. If there were a bridge, he would leap off it. He cries like he is never going to see me again. DOOOOM!!!! I spend a good portion of my time sneaking around corners and ducking up staircases hoping he won't notice I left his sight.


However, HOWEVER! He can play by himself and entertain himself. He climbs up and goes down the slide by himself. Also, whenever he sees me he gives me a hug. He cuddles! And after raising Pepe Le Pew's girlfriend, that is a welcome change.

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I am making progress on my Complete the Christmas Madness Before Thanksgiving Goal. I have ordered our Christmas cards and have updated last year's recipient list. I have purchased gifts for everyone except my brother and my husband. I have a few other random things to get to finish it off. I am now moving on to getting everything I need for Becca's birthday and birthday party. Then stocking stuffers.

Two years ago when we were enduring the Great Poorness of First Year Airline Pilot Hell I cut waaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyy back on Christmas gifts for everyone. I just got everyone one thing. And that was it. And I took the pressure off myself to find That Perfect Gift or The Perfect Gifts. I realized I am not the only person buying gifts for people. People get gifts from a bunch of people. As long as it was something somewhat thoughtful...and affordable. That was good. Man, people. That RULED. So I am all for the "buy one gift for each person" mindset now. Of course, there are exceptions--usually the people who actually reside with me get a few more things, etc. But really. I have toned it down. And I am much happier for it.

(I don't know if the gift recipients are happier, but who cares about them, anyway?)

(Totally kidding.)

(But really, I am happier. So that does rule.)



(If Mama ain't happy, ain't NOBODY happy.)



So, I made a list of everyone who was getting a gift from us. Then I tried to think up one thing for everyone (unless the one thing was a gift assortment of smaller things). Then I went out shopping and bought them. Some people got something totally different than I originally intended. Some I ordered online. I am a great fan of photo gifts from online photography Web sites. I wrote down how much I spent on each person so I won't be tempted to keep buying and buying more. Now it is all sitting in my basement awaiting wrapping and mailing. Man, I hate the mailing part. The shopping was the fun part. Now the procrastination begins.